Running gear for baby carriages



July 7. 1925. I 1,545.288

R. STINSON RUNNING GEAR FOR BABY CARRIAGES Filed Sept. 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 a [r ,1 M

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July 7, 1925. 1,545,288

R. STINSON RUNNING GEAR FOR BABY CARRIAGES Filed Sept. 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July '7, 1925.

UNITED STAT -s IPA-TENT oFF-lcE;

RICHARD. STINSON, or GARDNER. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'ro nE Woon-wAKE- FIELD COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A ooaronn'rrou or M ss C'HU- V RUNNING GEAR r03 BABY CARBIAGESLH:

Application filed September 14, 1922. Serial No. 588,184

To all whom it mayronoem: 1

Be it known that I, RICHARD S'rmsom-a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner,-in thecounty of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Running Gear for Baby Carriages, of which the following, together with-the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to a running gear for baby carriages, with particular reference to a construction of same involving simplicity and ease of: assemblage, to-

gether with the necessary rigidity of the parts. The several features of the invention which contribute to the foregoing and other advantages are fully set forth hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying; drawings, wherein- A V A Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a baby carriage: gear or frame constructed according to the invention. A A A Fig. 2 isv a top planyview'thereof on a smaller scale, and showing in connection therewith a detachable handle bar construction. A A

YFig. 3 is a plan viewof the. frame proper, with the springs removed. A

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation on a larger scale, showing the mode of attaching the wheel spindles to the frame;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5+5 of Fig. 4. A A A A Fig. 6 is a large scale fragmentary view, showing the mode of securing the detachable handle bar construction to the frame.-

' Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7--.'2'v of i Fig. 6. I

Like reference characters refer to. like parts in'the dilferent figures.

As shown in the drawlngs, the. frame which carriesthe wheel axles or spindles,

and onwhich thesprings are superposed, is of one-piece construction, comprising, preferably, an elongated member of channelsection, which is bent substantially 'inrU-form to, provide longitudinal sides 1, 1 and a transverse connecting end 2.. The open side of the channel section preferably facesinwardly, and thus the outer surface of the.

frame is constituted by the smoothunbroken bottom or web of the channel, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. AA A This construction of the frame with -an integral transverse portion 2 at the front;

does away with the necessity fora separate front bracing member, or with the necessity for a front axle extending across andconnecting the sides ,1, '1 of the frame. In-

stead of the usual front axle, the construction provides separate short -wheel spindles 3, 3 which project outwardly through holes 4, 4 providedin-the outside or bottom portion of the channel section, as

shown in Fig. 4, and said spindles 3, 3 at their lnner ends are bent at right angles to provide attaching portions 5, 5' lying within and between the upper and lower sides or flanges of said channel section,-as

shown-in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. vThe portions 5', 5 are preferably rectangular in section to ,conform to thesection of the channel, and if necessary,the entire'channel space adjacent the portions 5 may, for greater rigidity, be filled up by the use of spacing members 6, 6 which conveniently take the form of short channel sections receivable within the channel of the frame A pair of bolts or rivets 7, :7 passing through each attaching. portion .5 and through the associated spacing member, firmly and rigidly connect each spindle 3 to the frame. 1 A

Similar spindles 3",1-3 are provlded for the rear wheels ofthevehiele, said spindles being attachedto.thesides'l, l of the frame in precisely the same manner as the front spindles 3, 3. This construction, in the absence of'the usual rear axle or a transverse bracing member, is madepossible by a special handle banconstruction, which itself operates asa transverse brace for the frame" betweenthe rear'ends of-the sides'l, 1. l'As shown: most 'clearlyin Figs. 2 and 3, this handle I bar construction consists of a onepiece; lpreferablytubularmember bent in and. an integral forward connecting transaffords a suitable grip for the hands ofthe --substantially U-formto provide sides 8, 8

operator. AVVhen this handle bar construction is secured in operative relation to the frame, as hereinafter described, the trans verse portion 9 acts asalrigid rear brace for the sides 1,1, and preventsany' deflec tionof the free rear ends of said sides.

The forward end or bottom of the handle 7 bar unit is adapted to be inserted and held,

detachably, between the rear ends of the frame sides 1, 1,the tubular material of the sides 8, 8, adjacent the end portion 9,.

being receivable between the upper and lower'fianges of the channel section, as shown clearly in Figs. 3, 6 and'7. At its extreme rear end, each side 1, 1 of the frame provides a latch member 11 which, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is preferably made from material of channel section, of suflicient size to snugly embrace the channel section of the frame.

Intheformation of each latch member 11, the channel material for a portionof its length iscut away and removed except from the top side or flange, as shown at 12,12; this portion 12,extending rearwardly from the complete channel portion of the latch, serves forthe pivotal attachment of the latch to the top flange of the frame, by meansof a rivet or stud 13. When the latches 11, 11

are swung inwardly, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, their cutaway web and bottom fian e portions permits the lower end of the handle bar unit to be inserted in place between the sides 1,1 of the frame, as shown in Fig. 8; when this'has been done, the two latches 11 are rocked on their pivotsso as to porting the structure, by swinging both latches inwardly topermit endwise and sidewise withdrawal .from thechannels of sides 1, 1. However, when the parts are assembled together, and the latches 11,11 frictionally locked in operative position, no relative endwise movement of the handle bar unit can take place, since the transverse frame bracing portion 9 bears on its front side against the adjacent attaching portions 5, 5 of the rear wheel spindles, and on its rear side against the forward edges of the latches 11, 11..

The frame bracing portion 9 of the handle bar unit carries a bracket 16, which provides pivotal support fora brake operating pedal 17 of the usual construction. The latter has a link. or wire 18 extending forwardly and hooked around a transversely disposed bar 19 which passes loosely through alined slots 20,20 formed in the web of the frame channel .on opposite sides. .The de pression of pedal 17 causes a flexure'of bar 19 into the position shown by dotted lines 19, Fig. 3, whereby to throw both ends of said bar projecting beyond slots 20, 20 toward the front, for the exertion of a braking action on the periphery or treadof each latching means front wheel. According to the invention, the bar 19 is so constructed that its wheel contacting portions 21, 21 are offset from the intermediate portion that is held in the slots 20, 20; in consequence of this, the bar 19 is prevented from becoming displaced when once in place, and is susceptible of spindles in place, can also be employed for" securing the springs 22 that support the body of the vehicle, not shown. According to the invention, these springs 22 are formed with a longitudinal rib 23, whereby to increase the stiffness of the material and thus permit the use of lighter materialthan would otherwise be advisable.

I claim,

1. In a babycarriageor similar vehicle, a frame constituted by channel material, with the open end of said channelfacing in 'wardly, in combination with individual wheel spindles projecting through the web of said channel and having integral portions at right angles to their axes and contained within the channel material of said frame and means for securing said integral portions to said channel material.

2. In a baby. carriage or similar vehicle, a frame constituted by. longitudinal inwardly opening side channels, springs supported by the'upper fiangesof said channels,

individual wheel spindles projecting through the webs of said channels and having integral attaching portions at right angles within said channels, and common retaining devices securing said springs and said spindle attaching'portions to said channels.

3. In a baby carriage or similar vehicle, a frame construction providing separate rear wheel spindles attached thereto, in combination with a handle bar unit providing a rear transverse brace for said frame, and

cooperating with spindles to prevent endwise movement of said unit relative to said frame. 1

4. In a baby carriage or similar vehicle,

an open frame of ohannelsection, in com bination with a detachable handle bar unit having a transverse portion'adapted to close ceivable inthe' side channels of said frame, and latching means attached to said frame adapted to close the inserted portions of said handle bar unit in said channel section and said i the open end of said frame and being re- 7 by cooperation with said transverse portion to prevent Withdrawal of said unit from said frame. 1

5. In a baby carriage or similar vehicle, an open frame of channel section in combination With a detachable handle bar unit having a transverse portion adapted to close the open end of said frame and being receivable in the side channels of said frame,

latching means comprising a U-shaped mem- 10 ber pivotally attached to said frame at the endof one side thereof adapted to close the position.

RICHARD STINSON. 

